2 Plead Not Guilty in Gay Student Death

The two men charged in the slaying of gay college student Matthew Shepard pleaded not guilty and expect to find out before the end of the year whether they could get the death penalty if convicted. Russell Arthur Henderson and Aaron James McKinney entered their pleas during separate hearings in Laramie, Wyo. Judge Jeffrey A. Donnell said he will set trial dates at a Dec. 10 hearing. Henderson and McKinney, both 21, are charged with first-degree murder, aggravated robbery and kidnapping with intent to inflict bodily injury or to terrorize the victim. Shepard, 21, was bound and tied to a wooden fence post Oct. 7 outside Laramie. He died five days later.